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Former Teammate Reveals Roy Keane's Softer Side And A Player He 'Hated'

Former Teammate Reveals Roy Keane's Softer Side And A Player He 'Hated'

Former teammate Phil Neville claims that Roy Keane had "a soft spot for me" whilst there was one player that he "hated".

Alex White

Alex White

Whilst we have been used to seeing Roy Keane's steely exterior on our screens as a player, manager and pundit for over 20 years, an old teammate has suggested there is a more gentle side to the former Manchester United Captain.

Since Keane has started working for ITV and Sky Sports, we have become accustomed to the Irishman's blunt and often brutal critiques and punditry.

This side of Keane was strongly associated with him throughout his entire playing career, which was a significant factor behind his huge success as a captain.

However, in recent months we have been getting insight into Keane's softer side due to his on-screen friendship with Micah Richards and his surprising arrival onto the Instagram scene.


Since this, former Man United and Everton player, and now Inter Miami FC manager, Phil Neville has emerged as the unlikely candidate to reveal the side of Keane that we have not seen as much over the years.

When speaking on The Greatest Game with Jamie Carragher, Neville said: "Do you know what? I think he had a soft spot for me.

"He actually turned up to my wedding... and he would never turn up to anyone else's wedding.

"He turned up to mine and had a good time - and his kids went to school with my kids.

"Every time I see him now, I think 'he has a little bit of a soft spot for me'."

PA

Whilst Keane was seemingly more warmhearted towards Neville, the same could not be said for Neville's brother Gary, who works alongside Keane at Sky Sports.

Phil Neville said: "I think because he hated Gary so much - he used to fight with Gary every day - he saw me as the nice one."

When speaking to The Sun recently, Eric Djemba Djemba gave insight into how his character would change when he was on the pitch compared to behind the scenes.

Djemba Djemba said: "In the dressing room, he [Keane] was a good guy. He was very affectionate.

"But on the pitch.... If you had a gun, you'd want to shoot him. He'd insult you, he'd say anything and everything.

"As soon as the game was finished, he was a different person. I preferred Keane in the dressing room rather than on the pitch. He was like that because he wanted to win."

PA

Keane's desire to win meant that he was an authoritative figure throughout the dressing room.

Djemba Djemba added: "Sometimes I'd wear a diamond earring and Keane would say to me, 'What is this?' So before I got to the dressing room I removed it because I didn't want him to see it.

"I remember he used to shout at Kleberson, who was a very quiet guy who never spoke and was always laughing.

"Keane would always shout at him, 'Wake up, you're not in Brazil now on the Copacabana. Run!'"

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics:ย Micah Richards, Phil Neville, Manchester United, Sky Sports, Gary Neville, ITV, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane